Vehicle spring suspension



Sept. 1, 1936.

in, c. CORSON- VEHICLE SPRING SUSI ENSION Filed July 8, 1935 .v

- INVENTOR. D. C. CORSON.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 V UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION David C. Corson, Pasadena, Calif.

Application July 8, 1935,Serial No. 30,308

' 9 Claims. ((31.267-60) This invention relates to vehicle spring susat 26 to receive a pin 21 for a purpose to be herepension. inafter described.

The general object of the invention is to pro- Positioned about the bushing I9 and inwardly vide an improved spring suspension for vehicles from the bearing members 22 and 23 are provided such as automobiles. on each end of the axle l3 a pair of collar mem- A further object of the invention is to. provide bers 28 which are clampedto the bushing l9 by an improved spring suspension wherein a vehicle bolts 29. Secured to each collar member 28 I body is resiliently supported on aplurality of coil provide a rod 30. The forward ends 3| of the springs. rods 38 are secured to the torque tube 32 as at A more specific object of the invention is to 33. 10 provide a spring mounting for vehicles wherein Adjacent each end of the axle I provide spring a coil spring member is mounted and is pivotally assemblies 34. As shown these assemblies each movable on the vehicle axle and wherein novel include a spring support 35 which comprise a means is provided for connecting this spring bottom 36, a pair of upstanding tongues 31, a member to the vehicle. pair of upstanding arms 38. and a pair of de- 15 Other objects of the invention will be apparent pending lugs 39 which are apertured to engage from the, description taken in connection with the pin 2'! previously described.

the accompanying drawingywherein: Positioned between the arms 38 and between Fig; 1 is a top plan view of a chassis of a vethe lugs 3'5 is a coiled spring 40 in which is posi o hicle showing my invention applied thereto; tioned a second coiled spring 4| of reduced di- Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; ameter. The upper ends of thearms 38 are se- .Fig- 3is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig, 2 cured to a head 42 by screws 43. Thehead 42 is with parts broken away tomore clearly show apertured as at 44 to slidably receive a connectdetails of the construction; ing rod 45. An oiling pad 46 is secured by a clamp 5 Fig. 4 is. a side elevation of the spring support; 41 to the head 42 to keep the rod 45 lubricated. Fig. 5 is a central sectional View through the The upper end of the rod 45 is secured to a ball spring support; joint 48 which in turn is secured asby bolts 49 Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 9-6 of Fig. 3, to the portion l4 of the frame Ill. The lower end and v of the rod includes a reduced threaded portion Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4. 56 on which a spring engaging plate 5| is posi- 30 Referring to the drawing by reference charactioned. The plate 5| is secured in position by a ters, I have shown my invention as embodied in nut 0 CUPS 52 are p d d in he plate 5| a. vehicle indicated generally at In. to provide lubrication for the edges thereof.

- Asshown this vehicle includes a frame I I which S S ow in F gs. 4 and '7 the plate 5| is round has longitudinal side members l2 thereon. These in Shape d includes On either Side thermf a 35 side. members at the front are provided with a P Of ea 53 which e gage the sides of the curved portion I3 and at the rear with a curved arms 38. (See Fig. 4.) portion I4, the purpose of which will be apparent In or r to resiliently retain the spring assemas the description proceeds. blies 34 in a upright position I p ovide a pair My invention may be applied with equal faciliof tie rods'54 each of which includes an inner 40 ty toeither the front axle or the rear axle and as rod 55 and'an outer rod 56. One end of each of shown in'Fig. 3 it is applied to the rear axle l5 the rods 56 is rotatively. secured to a lug 51 which includes the differential housing l6. mounted on the inner arm1'38f of the spring Adjacent each of the two ends of the axle I5 assembly 34. The other ends of the rods 55 ter- I provide aninner flange l1 and an outer flange minate in enlarged heads 58 which are slidably 45 H. Positioned outward from the flanges H I positioned within cages 59 which in turn are provide the customary wheels l8. A split bushsecured to the outer ends of the rods 55. Springs ing l9 is positioned about a reduced portion 20 60 are positioned within the cages '59. and about of the axle l3. As shown in Fig. 6 the drive axle the rods 56. These springs 60 en'gage'the head 2| extends through to axle I3 and the portion 20. 58 and the cage 59 to produce tension between 50 About the outer portion of each of the bushings the rods and 56. The inner ends of the rods I9 I provide a pair of bearing members 22 and. 55 are rotatably secured to an anchor member 23 which are secured together by suitable bolts 6| which in turn is po tioned in a ball joint 62 24. The bearing members 22 each include an mounted onthedifierential housing I6; 55 upwardly extending lug 25 which is apertured as In operation when the vehicle isdriven for- 55 ward by the wheels through the medium of the axle l3, the torque tube 32 and its associated rods 30, the frame rides on the spring assem- V blies 34 which are resiliently held in a substantially Vertical position by the tie rods 3|]. When one of the wheels strikes an obstruction the springs and 4| at that side are compressed and the upper portion of the spring assembly swings outwardly to a very slight extent until the spring 60 in the associated tie rod 54 is compressed. ,At the same time the other tie rod is slightly pulled through the anchor member 6! and thus the spring assembly at the side opposite the obstruction is pulled inwardly slightly from' the vertical. This operation results in a very eifective controlled springing. 1

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel spring suspension means for vehicles which is simple in construction and operation and is highly efiicient. H l

Having thus described my invention I claim: 1'. In a spring supportfor a vehicle including aframe having longitudinal side members, an axle, a differentialhousing and a torque rod, a pair of spring assemblies, each of said spring assemblies including a support, means to pivotally mount one of said supports adjacent each end of the axle to'move laterally of the vehicle, said spring assemblies each including a compression spring, means to hold the compression spring in the support, rods connecting the axle to the torque rod, means'connecting said spring assemblies to said frame, brace means for the spring assemblies, said brace means each including a resilient portion'and being disposed whereby said assemblies are normally vertical and are resilientlyrestrained from moving outwardly from the vertical laterally of the vehicle by the connecting means. r

In a'spring support for a vehicle including a frame having longitudinal side members, an axle, a differential housing and a torque rod, a pair of spring assemblies, each of said spring assemblies including a support, means to mount one of said supports adjacent each end of the axle'to move laterally of the vehicle, said spring assemblies each including a coiled compression spring,-- means to hold the coiled compression spring inithe support, rods connecting the axle to'the torque rod, means connecting said spring assemblies to said frame, brace means for'the spring assemblies, said brace means including slip joints, said slip joints being disposed whereby said assemblies are normally substantiallyjvertical and are limited to slight movement from the verticallaterally of the vehicle by the connecting means; l

3. In a spring support for a vehicle including a' frame having longitudinal side members, and an axle, a pair of spring assemblies, each of said spring assemblies including a support, means to mount one of said supports adjacent each end of the axle to move laterally of the vehicle, said spring assemblies each including a compression frame having side members, an axle, a differential housing and a torque tube, a split bushing mounted on said axle, a pair of bearings clamped to said bushing, a'pair of rods, one connected at one end to a bushing and at the other end to the torque tube, a second pair of bearings loose on said bushing, said second bearings each having a radially projecting lug thereon, a pair of spring supports each pivotally secured to one of said lugs to move laterally of the vehicle, a head secured to each support, a spring disposed in each' support, a plate engaging the top of each spring, a connecting rod secured to each spring engaging plate, means to secure each connecting rod to a side member, a swiveled bracket on said housing, a link-connecting said bracket to each support, said links including a slip joint arranged to allow limited inward and outward movement from the vertical laterally of the vehicle.

5.' In combination with a vehicle including a frame having side. members and an axle housing extending transversely of said side members and a torque.v tube member connected at" one end to said axle, said axle housing having a bearing portion thereon adjacent each of said side members, a split bushing mounted on each of said bearing portions, a collar clamped to each of said bushings, a second collar loosely mounted on each of said bushings, a spring support pivoted to each of said second collars for pivotal movement, a coil spring in each of said supports, said supports, including means to retain said springs therein, a plate positioned on each of said springs, a rod secured at one end to each of said plates, the opposite ends of said rods being universally secured to the adjacent one of said side members, and brace means connecting each of said sup,-. ports to said housing.

6. In combination with a vehicle including a said bushings, a second collar loosely mounted on each of saidbushings, a spring support pivoted to each of said second collars for pivotal movement transversely of .said'side members, a coil. spring in each of said'supports, said supports including means to retaini said. springs therein, a plate, positioned on each of said springs,

a rod secured at one end to each of said plates,

the opposite ends of said rods being universally secured to' the, adjacent one of said side meme bers, brace meanssconnecting each of said sup: ports to saidrhousing, said brace means includ-' ing means to limit the outward and inward swing of said supports laterally "of the, vehicle, rods secured at one end toeachj of said firstcollars and at theiropposite'ends to said torque tube member.

7.. The combination-of a vehicle including a frame having side members, an axle, a .diiferen-i tial housing and a torque tube,,a. split bushing mounted on said axle, a pair of bearings clamped to said bushing, a pair of rods,one connected at one end to a bushing and at the other end to the torque tube, a second pair of bearingsloose on said bushing, said second bearings eaclihaving a radially projecting lug thereon, a pair of spring supports each pivoted to one of said lugs to move laterally of the vehicle, said:supports each inl di asp-a r fve tically fixten n tonguea a to pair of ears on each support spaced between said tongues, a head secured to each pair of ears, a spring disposed in each support and confined by said ears and tongues, a plate engaging the top of each spring, ears on said plate slidably engaging the tongue, a connecting rod secured to each spring engaging plate, means to secure each connecting rod to a side member, each support having a lug thereon, a swiveled bracket on said housing, a link connecting said bracket to each support lug, and means to adjust the length of said connecting means,- said connecting means including a slip joint arranged to allow inward and outward movement of said supports laterally of the vehicle. a

8. The combination of a vehicle including a frame having side members, an axle, a differential housing and a torque tube, a split bushing mounted on said axle, a pair of bearings clamped to said bushing, a pair of rods, one connected at one end to a bushing and at the other end to the torque tube, a second pair of bearings loose on said bushing, said second bearings each having a radially projecting lug thereon, a pair of spring supports each having a bifurcated lower portion pivoted to one of said lugs, said pivots being parallel to said side members, said supports each including a pair of vertically extending tongues diametrically arranged, a pair of ears on each support diametrically arranged and spaced between said tongues, ahead secured to each pair of ears, a spring disposed in each support and confined by said ears and tongues, a plate engaging the top of each spring, ears on said plate slidably engaging the'tongues, a connecting rod secured to each spring engaging plate, said heads each having a hole therein through which a connecting rod passes, means to secure each connecting rod to a side member, each support having a lug thereon, a swiveled bracket on said housing, a link connecting said bracket to each support lug, and means to adjust the length of said connecting means, said connecting means including a slip joint arranged to allow limited inward and outward movement of said supports laterally of the vehicle.

9. In combination with a vehicle including a frame having side members and an axle housing extending transversely of said side members and a torque tube member connected at one end to said axle, a spring support pivotally secured on each end of said axle housing to move laterally of the vehicle, a coil spring on each of said supports, means whereby said side members are supported by said springs, and means connecting said supports to each other for simultaneous movement, said connecting means being disposed above the axle housing.

DAVID C. CORSON. 

